What, if anything, is the difference in function of the Redding Type S Full Bushing Die and the Forster Bushing Bump Neck Sizing Die?

I want to try one or the other of these with my Blaser R93 .22-250 heavy target barrel. I know there is controversy over the need for such dies but I have decided to try a set anyway and I just want to make sure I correctly understand each of their function before I decide between them.

The Blaser bolt collets probably allow slightly more case head set back on firing than a Mauser type turnbolt. So I don’t want to neck size only for a Blaser and I don’t want to have to split neck sizing and setting the shoulder back a couple of thou into two operations.

Have any of you got any direct experience with either of these dies?

I use the Redding Type-S Full length sizing Bushing Die for my 243 win. It will full length resize the whole case, body and neck in one operation. You may need 3 bushings. Used with or without an expander button. I have not used the Forster Bushing Bump Neck Sizing Die, this die will neck size only and move the shoulder back .001" or .002" It does NOT touch the body of the brass. There is nothing giving support to the body when bumping, if over done, the brass may not fit the chamber. To use this die correcty, you need to measure with a tool exactly how much you are bumping.

243winxb,

Thank you for your very clear explanation. I thought that might be the difference between FL size and bump, but didn't know for certain.

Do you think that a neck-bump die like the Forster, if used correctly as you describe, would be appropriate in assembling hunting ammo where reliable feeding and chambering are critical? Or is that why you personally chose to go with the Redding?

Hunting ammo should always be full length resized.

Just as an aside I too shoot a blaser and was told I couldn't neck size for it. At first I had some problems but they turned out to be die related. Once I got my house in order I have been very successful with neck sizing for my Blaser in 308Win and I actually neck size my hunting ammo as well - though I would run it all through the rifle before taking it into the field just to make sure it chambers.

You can neck size for an R93, I did so for quite a few years. But I tired of hard chambering reloads, the straight pull action naturally misses the leverage offered by a traditional bolt action. The main reason I had for neck sizing was to minimize case trimming. I found a pretty good compromise between easily chambering reloads and minimized trimming by using PFLS. Try it, you won't be disappointed with how smoothly the reloads chamber - in particular compared to neck sized reloads.

- mike